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Mary Percyof Wall, South Dakota, died on Thursday, November 13, 2025
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Mary Dean Percy was born September 1, 1932 in Wall, South Dakota and grew up in the surrounding area. She was raised on a ranch and attended Lincoln School, Wall High School, and graduated from Wall High School in 1950. At that time, she was united in marriage to Richard Deutscher on October 4, 1950. They lived on her parent’s ranch 12 miles northwest of Wall.
They lived there until 1965 when Richard was murdered. At that time, Mary and her three children moved into Wall where she worked for the telephone company. Later Mary moved to Rapid City to work for Northwestern Bell. Due to Doss’s medical condition, she moved to Tempe, Arizona and worked for a mental hospital filling out and filing medical records. Mary met John McGriff Sr. while in Tempe, and they moved to Flagstaff for 18 months before moving back to South Dakota and purchased a motel and filling station in Hill City. Mary ran the motel, and John ran the filling station. Later she moved back to Wall and managed a motel while the kids attended school. She later met and married Wayne Percy. They lived in the country and operated a ranch for numerous years. They later moved into Wall and kept books for the grocery store and worked for the local priest. During this time, her son Doss was killed in a vehicle accident. She later moved to Quinn where she has since resided.
Mary enjoyed working on her house and sewing when something needed to be fixed.
Survivors include one son John (Shelly) McGriff of Quinn; two daughters Diana Norman of Black Hawk and Sonja (Dave) Wernke of Canada; six grandchildren: Codie, Carlie, Michael, Alyssa, Mandy, and John Luke; 13 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Richard Deutscher; son Doss Deutscher; grandson Matthew McGriff; and her parents Roy and Irene Shull.
Cremation has taken place and interment will be held at a later date at the Wall Cemetery.
Cremation has taken place and interment will be held at a later date at the Wall Cemetery.